West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-09-08
QUEER WEDDING CUSTOMS.
HOW THE MARITAL KNOT Is TIED
IN SOME COUNTRIES.
pdd Ways OF People iva India, Rou-
mania, i'm the Tyrol. and i'm Nor
wcgian Villages.

odd Ways OF People iva India, Rou-
mania, i'm the Tyrol, and I'm Nor
wegian Villages.
The Missionary Maqdsine describes the
marriage customs Of the Red Karcns of
Burmah, which are not very different
from those of other Karen tribes. Whom
young man wishes girl for his wife. he
goes 20 her house and makes known To
her parents his wishes, and they question
him IN reference TO his relatives, and, if
they find there is no one among his con
nection who has been possessed with
evil spirits, the young man is accepted.
and the girl is called, who comes
out OF the house and makes an eN-
animation of the youths back to see il he
has been tatooed according TO the Red
Karen custom. III not, she will not marry
nm; If his back has the half-star with
seven rays she accepts him In few
days or weeks after the engagement the
marriage feast is made, which lasts three
days, The first day of the feast, all the
people OF the village gather together nj
the bndegrOom's house and eat rice and
drink whisky. At the first days feast
the bride is not present The second day
all 30 to the brides house and spend an
other day in eating and drinking. At
the close of the second days feast, dish
OF rice is placed on.the floor. Then the
bride and bridegroom sit down near the
dish of rice while the best man and
bridesmaid sit down between the bride
and bridegroom. The bridesmaid then
takes handful of rice and feeds the
bride, while the best man does the same
with the groom. This is the marriage
ceremony. After the feast the newly
married pair remain with the brides
parents a few days, while the people of
the village are building house for the
young couple. AS soon as this is done
they get a rice-pot and set up for them
selves.
A remarkable custom exists among the
Roumanians living in the westerly Car.
pathlans. Every year, at the feast of the
Apostles Peter and Paul, n market is held
on the crest of the Gaina, from .. 600 TO
5000 feet above the level of the sea, and
here all the marriageable girls of the en-.
tire district assemble with their parents
In order To be viewed and claimed
Mothers aunts grandmothers. and vari-
Gus other female friends contribute to the
dowry, and this completed, il is carried
w AAA' AAAtAA hNA bl Nut NulId III neatly
made trunks, decorated with flowers. and
carried by the family's best horses.
Cattle, bees, and other household reoui.
sitcs are also added to the dowry.
In some portions of Tyrol peculiar
and beautiful custom still prevails. When
girl is al ont 10 be married, before She
leaves her home ID 20 to the church, her
mother hands her a handkerchief, which
is called a tcar-kcrchief Ii is made
Of newly-spun linen, and has never been
used. IL is with this kerchicf that she
dries her tears when she leaves her
fathers house and while she stands mt
the altar. After the marriage is over,
and the bride has gone with her husband
10 their new home, she folds up the ker-
chief and places it unwashed i'm her
linen closet, where il remains untouched.
The tear kerehief has only performed half
of its mission. Children arc born, grow
up marry and move away from the old
home. Each daughter receives from the
mother new tcar-kerchicf. Her own
still remains where il was placed in the
closet ON the day of the marriage. Gen
eraiions come and 90. The young, rosy
bride has become a wrinkled old lady.
She may have survived her husband and
all her children. All her friends may
have died off, and still that last present
which She received from her mother
has not fulfilled its object. But il
comes at last. At last the weary eyes
close for long, long sleep. and the tired
wrinkled hands are folded over the pulse
less heart. Then the tear-kerchief is
taken from its place and spread over the
placid features Of the dead, never'to be
removed udtil we arc summoned TO come
forth on the resurrection morn.
1t takes good while for village we'd
ding festival 20 be carried out in Norwe-
gian villages, sometimes as long as a
week Beer, spirits, plenty 20 eat, music.
dancing are the features. The guests
begin TO assemble on the day before the
wedding. They arc welcomed with
plenty Of spiritsand beer by the brideand
groom. The village schoolmaster is al
ways master Of the ceremonies. and il is
he who invites the guests to the recep-
ton meal lie says grace. A psalm is
then sung to the accompaniment Of two
viOlins. The repast is simple, and served
on the bare table. No plates are used,
but large fiat cakes of meal instead
The night Is spent in rovelinR. The
next morning at o'clock the wedding
procession starts for the church The
bride always wears a silver crown and
silver ornaments. In some parts Of the
kingdom she is clad in a purple robe,
richly embroidered with gold frequent
ly the heirloom of centuries Sometimes
the way 10 church Is by boat and some
times on horseback Music leads the
way. The march to church is never
halted, but when the party returns after
the church ceremony a salute is fired
from every house along the route. and at
every one the newly married pair alight
and partake Of beer. The journey home
often takes % day owing to this general
joining in The festivities. -Ne,o Tork Oh.
scrrlr.